The recent closure of a major player in film recycling has sent ripples through the industry. With tight margins, cheap virgin resin and quality issues mounting, film recycling is under pressure like never before.
The EU-funded UPCYCLE project brings together 19 partners to turn non-recyclable plastic waste into highly recyclable, non-persistent packaging solutions using AI, eco-design and smart polymerisation.
Plastic Packaging – Introduction The Italian company Revet has inaugurated a new production line in Pontedera, which brings its annual output of granules made from plastic packaging waste to over 20,000 tons. With a substantial investment of €11 million, the firm has effectively doubled its plastic recycling capacity, signalling a major step for the circular…
European Plastics Industry Declines: Insights from PlasticsEurope at K2025
The atmosphere at K2025 reflected growing unease within Europe’s plastics sector. According to PlasticsEurope’s “Plastics the Fast Facts 2025” report, the industry continues to shrink in global relevance despite a slight stabilization in production volumes. Europe’s share of global plastics output has fallen from 22% to just 12% over the past two decades, squeezed by high energy costs, strict regulations, and fierce global competition.
Producer turnover dropped 13% between 2022 and 2024, highlighting deep structural pressures and weak domestic demand. Meanwhile, Asia — led by China — now accounts for 57% of global plastics production, underscoring Europe’s loss of industrial ground.
Even in circular plastics, Europe lags behind: production remained flat at 8.4 million tons in 2024, while global circular plastics surpassed 43.9 million tons, driven by rapid growth in Asia.
At K2025, PlasticsEurope’s Director General Virginia Janssens called for urgent policy alignment and investment to revitalize the sector. Without coherent industrial strategy and stronger support for innovation, Europe risks not only economic decline but also dependency on imported sustainable materials.
